A point closer to a four-in-a-row, or two points dropped by a Celtic team struggling to rediscover the drive and dynamism of previous campaigns?

We'll have to wait until the season' s end to work out whether this draw against the league's bottom side was a positive result for Gordon Strachan's men - but it didn't feel much like a huge stride in the right direction yesterday. Against an Inverness team fired up by the arrival of Terry Butcher, Celtic found themselves - not for the first time - unable to convert possession into a victory.

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And, in a slightly madcap ending to a typically robust encounter, the champions might well have left without even the consolation of doubling their lead over Rangers to two points.

An Inverness win would surely have been too much even for Butcher to hope for in his first game in charge.

He simply had to settle for a draw - Caley Thistle's first point in nine games - that takes his new team to within four points of second-bottom Falkirk. And it would have taken a hard heart to deny them that for their efforts yesterday.

There was no place in the Celtic squad for new signing Willo Flood, while former Inverness player Barry Robson took over from Marc Crosas in central midfield.

Stephen McManus also returned from injury to replace Glenn Loovens and Georgios Samaras was preferred to Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink up front.

So close: Inverness striker Richie Foran had the ball in the bet but his effort was disallowed

Caley Thistle? Well, some fans turned up i n blood- stained headbands in honour of their new manager's famous past; they clearly expect a bit of guts and gumption under Butcher. The new gaffer shook things up immediately, making a number of changes and going with a 4-4-2 formation. After eight SPL defeats on the bounce, anything was worth a try.

There was certainly plenty of attitude about Inverness from the outset here, as the Highlanders pressed and squeezed the champions, working in clusters to deny Celtic space.

They might not be able to completely shackle talents like Aiden McGeady, Shunsuke Nakamura and Scott Brown - but they weren't going to simply stand aside and let them play. Inverness actually bared their attacking teeth first in this snarling contest, Dougie Imrie testing Artur Boruc with a low 30-yard shot after just a minute. The keeper really should have done better than turn the ball behind.

Welcome change: Inverness' new manager Terry Butcher

Richie Foran, a well-kent face making his SPL return after Butcher managed to sneak him back over the border from Southend within hours of being appointed, actually had the ball in the net for Caley Thistle after four minutes - but he was flagged offside before beating Boruc. Strachan expected a bounce from a team under new management. He would also have expected quality to show as the game wore on.

Celtic did create chances in the first half, Brown seeing a shot blocked by Pavels Mihadjuks and Samaras opting to cross when he should have shot after a superb pass from Robson. Nakamura also saw a shot blocked by David Proctor after a poor bit of defending by Ross Tokely, who was having a torrid enough time dealing with simple crosses, without also being asked to pin down McGeady. The latter proved beyond him after 25 minutes, McGeady leaving the right-back standing before delivering a cross on to the forehead of Samaras six yards out. Quite how the big Greek striker contrived to miss may remain a mystery forever.

Looking increasingly stretched at the back, Inverness retained their ability to cause problems in the opposition box, with Mihadjuks forcing Boruc into a point-blank save with a powerful header form Ian Black's free-kick - and Foran heading over from an Imrie delivery. If the first half was fairly even, the second quickly settled into a pattern of Celtic domination without penetration - and only fleeting moments of relief for Butcher's men.

McGeady was having one of those afternoons when he found creating space no problems. And he did put in a couple of truly inviting crosses. But there was a lack of aggression about the Celtic forward pairing. Samaras quickly paid the price for his laxness and was replaced by Vennegoor of Hesselink six minutes into the second half.

Vocal: Celtic's manager Gordon Strachan

The big Dutchman has a great record against Caley Thistle, having scored six goals in his previous four outings. Perhaps it would take a battering ram to break down the obdurate Highland defence.

But the away back line was very nearly breached with a little under 15 minutes remaining . Only a lack of communication between Adam Rooney and Imrie - both leaving Russell Duncan's cross to each other - stopped Caley Thistle from taking the lead. Stung by this brush with disaster, Celtic hit back, with McGeady sending in yet another fine cross, which Vennegoor of Hesselink couldn't quite reach.

The game was in its closing stages now and, clearly, both sides were gearing up for one final push. Who would crack first?

Boruc pushed a Rooney header over the bar while, at the other end, the outstanding Mihadjuks blocked a Brown shot at close range. It now felt as if these players were trying to cram a couple of games' worth of drama into the final five minutes, as play swung from goalmouth to goalmouth.

With a minute of regulation time left, substitute Eric Odhiambo nearly marked his debut with a show-stopping winner, pouncing on a Proctor knock-down and forcing Boruc into a low save.

Yet, as the match moved into injury-time, Celtic skipper McManus could have won it as he ghosted in at a set-piece before volleying over from a difficult angle at close range.